PRO/CON: Should Democrats pass health care reform in Congress without a direct vote?

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Democrats in the U.S. House should not even be thinking about passing health care reform via a parliamentary trick that will avoid a direct vote. That is not the way any bill should pass in Congress, much less something as momentous as a new national health care plan.

Incredibly - and cynically - this is the strategy that Democrats are openly considering.

In essence, they would approve the Senate's version of health care without voting on the bill itself. Instead, House members would vote on a rule for debate that would declare the bill passed once a smaller package of changes also passed.

This is an insult to all voters.

If a bill can't be passed on a fair up-or-down vote, it should not become law. That's the way democracy is supposed to work.

Democrats have solid majorities in the House and Senate and a member of their party in the White House too. If they can't get a bill approved with those odds, it wasn't meant to happen.

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ANOTHER VIEW: Democratic strategy is OK

In an ideal world, Democrats wouldn't have to resort to creative measures to overcome Republican opposition on health care reform. Members of both parties could discuss the issue in a rational way and follow Robert's Rules of Order on every vote.

Sadly, that ideal world doesn't exist in Washington. Republicans in the House and Senate have poisoned the discussion with lies (like Sarah Palin's infamous "death panels") and obstructionism ("If Obama is for it, we're against it.")

Time and again President Obama and leading Democrats have reached out to Republicans, such as at the recent health summit, only to be rebuffed and insulted. Republicans want to derail health care reform, not debate it.

This approach would be a vote on health care even if it doesn't follow the traditional path.

It is the Republicans who are abusing the system and twisting the rules. They are trying to prevent majority rule, and they should not be allowed to get away with it.

FEEDBACK: What do you think? Would it be OK for Democrats to pass health care reform like this? Post your comments below.